Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The long and winding road

Today was Kirsten's 8th day since leaving hospital. She is looking well. She still gets tired and needs a sleep in the middle of the day. She can get herself around really well on the crutches. The trachy still has a bit of air escaping which can set up a megaphone effect which can be disconcerting, but it is easing with time. All the medical people are really really pleased with her progress.

She has a wonderful mental approach, too. She is positive without flaying herself to progress even faster. There are things she cannot do with Ally which, whilst disappointing, are to be expected. As she said to me today, 'this will just be a blip on the radar for Ally'. Darren is working like a trojan: he goes to work and works; he comes home and works. They had a daily nurse from the Royal District Nursing Service, which was worth every penny, I gather. This service has stopped now, mainly because Kirsten and Darren feel on top of both the wound care and the showering. As well as instilling confidence, this service knew how to access equipment, like bathing boards, and additional bandages of the right type.

In just a couple of weeks now, Kirsten will be able to put a bit of weight on her left leg. This changeover will be a challenge: when does just a bit become too much! But she is wise, and is looking at the longer term, rather than the short-term advantage.

Kirsten is wonderful, and is recognizably herself in the first photo. Ally will always know her mother didn't let her down, give her up to childcare professionals, etc. Any professionals who come will be for Kirsten and will impact very, very little on Ally's memory. "Mommy needs help, okay, Mommy's getting help but Mommy is still there for Ally." That's wonderful.Peripheral stuff, to children, is just peripheral stuff and barely registers on their radar.I'm happy for all of you.I know your health probably isn't improving, but whose does, at our age? In addition to helping with Kirsten and Ally, you have your French lessons and you are going forward with your life in your way.I'm very proud to call you my friend, Julie.Luv — K

Useful Research Sites

Candles

They are the last romantics, these candles;Upside down hearts of light tipping wax fingers,And the fingers, taken in by their own haloes,Grown milky, almost clear, like the bodies of saints.It is touching, the way they'll ignore

A whole family of prominent objectsSimply to plumb the deeps of an eyeIn its hollow of shadows, its fringe of reeds,And the owner past thirty, no beauty at all.Daylight would be more judicious,